Another DH question

[Geoff]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "bboyminn" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:

zanooda:
> > Another one of those silly questions: in the sentence "... he wrenched his mind back to his own body, fighting to remain present as the prisoners were pushed over gravel" I'm a little confused about the "over gravel" part :-). Does it mean that they were pushed forward to follow the gravel-covered driveway, or were they pushed down so that they fell onto that gravel? People translate it very differently, and I don't know what to say :-). It's on p.456 or p.369, "Malfoy Manor". I would really appreciate it if someone could explain...
 
bboyminn:
> Well you seem to be getting a consensus. 
 
> They were not 'pushed over ON TO the gravel' they were 'pushed ALONG the gravel' road; meaning they were propelled forward as they were force to walk along the gravel road or gravel walkway. 
 
Geoff:
I think that the matter is resolved if you look a few lines further back.

'He (Harry) stumbled and was dragged on to his feet by Greyback; now 
he was staggering along sideways, tied back-to-back to the four other 
prisoners.'
(DH "Malfoy Manor" p.369 UK edition)

Your quote is a continuation of this same action. they are being dragged and 
pushed along the gravelled sections. I wonder if it might be a typo for "over 
THE gravel".

By the by, why are we getting all this "gravel walkway"? What's the matter with 
"gravel path" or "gravel drive"?